Selective information apparatus



Feb. 20, 19243.

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SELECTIVE INFORMATION APPARATUS 4, 1922 5 'sheets-sheet l IIIJ- 1. |-L "I u1 ihn l l l l l l l l I l l I l l I I I I l l i l l l I l IIJ 5 Ov n 7 M 7 a d/ u 2 n A n J Z ,6 m 7 V F L o 4 9 b 2 4 l 9 0. m .7 fw/ l ..-h l ----L.

INVENTORy @6MM J? hfasmwz.

ATTORN EY.

Feb. 20, 1923.

L. R. MCDONALD SELECTIVE vINII'QRMATION APPARATUS 5 sheets-sheet 2 Filed Mar. A, 1922 I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I AIIORIIEY,

Feb?. 2o, 19723.

' L. R. MCDONALD SELECTIVE INFORMATION APPARATUS Filed Mar. 4, 1922 5 sheets-sheet Ys" ATTORNEY,

Feb. 2o, 1923. 1,446,259

, L. R. MCDONALD l v SELECTIVE INFORMATION .APPARATUS Filed Mar. 4, 1922 5 sheets-Sheet 4 05% v1 W@ VTV' "I" E I N "il m N N ,Q B A 'N W l m I I .L I N sb Q :IN

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ATTORNEY,

Feb. zo, 1923. l,446,259

L. MCDONALD SELECTIVE INFORMATION APPARATUS v Filed Mar'. 4, 1922 5 sheets-sheet 5 ATTORNEY,

Patented Feb. 2U, 1923.

UNITE. ST

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LESLIE nivicnonatn, on wnsriaocnnannenc; CANADA,

SELECTIVE INFORMATION APPARATUS.

Application filed March 4,

To all 'whom t 'may concern Be it known that I, l'lnsnin RMoDoNALD, a citizen ot' the United States, residing at lllestinount, Province ot Quebec, Dominion oi" Canada, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Selective Intermation Apparatus, ot which the following is a specification.

My inventioi'i relates to that. class ot in- 'lorniation apparatus'wherein a guide index is associated with a plurality oi placards, each o't which may he selectively and mechanically separated from the others and er posed vto view, and subsequently returned to :its normal position; and my in'iprovements are directed particularly to means for increasing the scope and elliciency oit the guide index in its cooperation with the placard selecting;` and exposing mechanism; and also to mea-ns for simplifying the selecting and4 exposing mechanism, and making it positive., accurate and etlicient in operation.

The particulars olf my in'iprovements l will now proceed toil'ioint out and explain, referring', in so doing` to the accompanying d rawings, in all oi' which the same parts are designated hy corresponding reference nun'icrals., and in which Fig. 1 is a liront eleva tion ot my improved apparatus; Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view, taken as on. the line 2 2 ol Fig. 1, looking to the right, many oit the elements being omitted, as the ligure y is intended priniarily to show the ,general arrmigeinent of the mechanism; Fig. 3 is a 'lront view, on an enlarged scale, with the exterior casing' removed, and with part ot the mechanisn'i on the lett side omitted 'for clearness, vertical and cross sections being omitted to condense the ligure; Fig'. l is a side view, taken as looking trom the lett on lll'ip". 3. hat omitting' certain parts for clearness; Fig'. 5 is a top view of the forward part ot the mechanism, the casing being ren'ioved, and the ligure being condensed hy the omission of medial portions; Fig. (l is a vertical sectional view ot the operating handle with its locking mechanism in neutral position; Fin'. 7 is a similar view showing' the locking' plunger depressed; Fig. 8 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the placard `gripping' n'iechanism; Fig'. 9 is a detail of part ot 'the lea't turning' mechanism, showing' it in a slightly dii'lerent position 'lroni that` in Fig'.

'lhe mechanism et the apparatus is in closed within a casingr l, which is provided 1922. Serial No. 541,161.

with an open or transparent front portion 2, behind which the guide index or a selected placard `may he exhibited.

'lhe tlat,-tahlelike portion 3 of the case is, preferably, closedexcept that it carries a pair ol guides 4t, l between-which isa slot 5, through which travels the operating handie 6, which is provided with a plunger 7, normally raised, as in Fig. 1, by a coiled spring' 8, and which, when depressed, oper ates on the pivoted latch 9 to throw its lower end outward, as shown in Fig. 7.

Plates 1() and 11 are connected hy studs 12, 13, the plate 10 heilig' attached to the upper portion ol? the handle 6, and the plate 11 carrying; its lower end 14.

A pair oi'l rails 17, 17, mounted in the casing, torni a track for a traveling frame, having' toothed side racks 1S, 18, connected by `suitable cross hars 19, 20, the under sides ot the racks 18, 18 being,` provided with V shaped grooves 21, 21, to accommodate the hall hearings, 22, 22, so `that the travel of the halls relative to the racks 18, 18 shall he less than their travel on the rails 17, 17, and in the normal shitting ofthe frame its center oil gravity will not pass beyond the support of the halls. t

yFlattened rods 25, 25, the ends of which rest across the notches 26, 26 of the racks 18, 18, carry the placards 27, 27, the ends of the rods 25, extending beyond the outer sides ot the racks, as shown.

To the cross har 19 'is pivoted a latch 30, held 'to duty by a spring 34, anda rack har 3,1, which are connected by a rod 32, attached to the rack har by one end and having its other end traveling` in a slot 33 in the latch 30, so thatthe latch and har may move lreely toward each other, lout may not separate further than permitted hy the rod 32.

To the 'trame ot' the rpparatus is attached another rack bar 35, into engagement with which the har 31 may he moved, thereby locking Athe traveling` frame against move ment.

@n a pair' of slides 3G, 36, attached to the 'frame of the apparatus, travels the cross headl?, carrying the pulleys, 88, 39, l0, and heilig` pivotally connected hv its arms l1, l2, with the pistons 41?), Llil `of the dash pot cylinders (l5, L16, pivot-ed at 417, #i8 to the trame and connected, tor the purpose ot equaliziniif the pressure, hy a tuhe 49, the nii" in which may he controlled hv a plug 50.

To the cross'head 37-` is also pivoted a vexplained as follows.

latch 55, having a. spring 56 bearing against its heel, and holding it normally in the position shown in Fig. 5.

Pulleys 5l, 52 are mounted in the frame ofthe apparatus; and pulleys, 57, 58 are mounted on slotted carriers 59, 60, heldy adjustably in the frame of the apparatus by the set screws 6l, 62.

Also, to the frame of the apparatus is pivoted a latch 65, to which is connected one end of a rod66, the other end of which is bent so as normally to engage behind the cross head 37. A coiled spring is stretched between the latch and the frame of the apparatus. It is omitted in Fig. 3, for clearness. lOn a pair of uprights- 7 0,V 70 are mounted pulleys 71, 72, 73, 74, and through vertical slots in the uprights slide the ends of a cross bar 75, provided with guide blocks 76, 76, to each of which is pivoted an arm 77, one end of which projects through the slot and is provided with a cross pin 7S yadapted to cooperate with a pair of cams 79, on the inner face of the upright. The arms 77 are, preferably, recessed on their under sides, as shown in Fig. 8, and, from each of the guide blocks 7 6, a gutteretl arm 80 projects through the slot in its upright 70.

A cord or cable 84ris attached at one end to one of the arms 77, from which the other end is led up over the pulley 72, down to pulley 7l, and then in succession aroundpulleys 57, 38, 5l, 39, 52, 40, 58, 73 and 741 and is then atached to the opposite arm 77 so that the weight of the guide blocks 76. 76 and cross bar 75 is carried, through the arms 77, 77, by the cable 84.

Three .index leaves 90, 91. 92 are carried by bars, 98, 9e, 95 pivotally mounted'in the frame of theapparatus; and are respectively provided with crank arms 96, 97, 98, the arm 97 being slotted to receive a pin 99 in the end of an arm 100 on a bar 101, the ends of which bar 101 are pivoted respectively to arms 96 and 98, the latter being provided with an offset arm 102 from which a rod 103 leads to an arm 104; carH ried by a shaft l05 rotatably mounted in.

the frame of the apparatus and providedv with a suitable knob 106 by which it may be turned. i

VThe operation of my apparatus may' be The parts being, for instance, in the position shown in Fig. 5, if it desired to consult the reverse side of the guide index, the knob 106 may be turned anticloelwise which will result in .turning the Aleaf 92 90 degrees to the right, -reversing the leaf 91 by turning it to the right 160 degrees; and, simultaneously. turning the leaf 90,

90 degrees to the right so that the face of leaf 90 and .the reverse' side of 91 will be exposed to view.

The items on the `guide index are provided with reference symbols, severally corresponding to the series of index numerals or symbols on the scales on the guides 4, 1l,

jwhich, in turn, are spaced to correspond with the recesses in the rack bars 16, 18; and, when the appropriate index number has been obtained from the guide index, the operator next proceeds to select the placard corresponding to that number, by sliding the handle 6 forward until its latch 9, engages with the latch 30.

rlhe swinging out of the latch 30 by latch 9 before the latter finds 'the vnotch in the former, will cause the latch 30, through the rod 32, to draw over the raclr bar 3l out of enga ement with the rack 35; in engagement therewith.

The handle 6 is then slid forward or back until its index line, indicated in Fig. 5, by the double headed arrow, registers with the desired index numeral on the guides fl, el. This results in moving the traveling framewhich carries they placards so as to'bring the ends of the rod carrying the placard corresponding with the selected index number directly over the grooved arms 80, 80, of the elevating` mechanism.

The 1plunger 7 is then pressed down, throwing the latch 9 over and releasing it from the latch 30, but, simultaneously, causing the latch 9 to push the rack bar 3l into engagement with the rack bar 35, thereby locking the placard carriage against further movement.

The handle 6 is then slid back until the lower end of the plunger 7 engages with the latch 55, thereby connecting the handle to the elevating mechanism.

A forward movement of the handle next pulls forward the cross head 37 with its pulleys 36, 39, 40, and draws on the cable 84C, so as, to lift the guide blocks 76, 76, causing their arms 80, S0 to receive and raise the ends of the selected rod 26, which, as they pass up between the cams 79, seat themselves in and are gripped by the grooved ends of the arms 77, whereby t-he placard rod is firmly locked to the elevating mechanism. The continued forward movement of the handle brings forward the cross head 87, compressing the air in the dash pot cylinders 4:5, e6, and gradually raising the placard to its full height in the apparatus.

Then the handle 6 is slid forwardr to about the limit of its travel, it passes the end of the latch 65, which snaps into the recess 67, thereby preventing the handle from being moved backward again.

1When it is desired to lower the placard to its place in the traveling frame, the plunger 7 is released from downward pressure and allowed to slidel up under theinfluence of the spring 8, thus freeing the latch 55, and allowing the cross head 37 to be drawn back gradually. under the control of the dash pot if it has been.

cylinders and pistons, by the descending Weight ot the cross bar and itsy connections, the pins 78, 78 on the arms 77, 77 being arrested by the cams 79, 79 so as to raise the arms tree from the ends ot the rods 2G, as they are seated in their notches in the travelingl carriage. And, as the cross head 237 reaches the limit ot its travel, it Will engage the end ot the rod G6, pullingV it bac-k and swinging the latch (i5 out ot engagement with the recess G7, thus freeing the handle G for another cycle ot operation.

ly means ot my improvements I secure a selective information apparatus, wherein a reversible guide index is associated Wit-hY placard selecting and exhibiting means 1n such a way that the amount ot space on the index available tor associative Work with the seleitive mechanism is largely increased, and the index leaves may be turned Without trespassing on the space required for the ope `ation ot' the selecting and exhibiting` mechanism. For it will be observed that the portion o'l the case behind the t(guide index leaves is not used ior the selecting or exhibiting` means, which not only permits its use tor turning the index leaves, but relieves the apparatus ot the Weight ot much complicated mechanism which it has been the practice to house in that part of the cases ot similar apparatus.

Furthermore., the selecting and exhibiting mechanism is simple, and ellieient, and its manually operated parts are moved to and tro on a straight line, the plunger element being;- designed to perform a plurality ot operations, so that through the handle the control ot' the operator is extended over the itull cycle oit operation ot the mechanism.

The apparatus is, also, safely locked in its successive positions, so as to avoid the danger ot its parts being thrown out ot proper relation during' their operation; and the danger ot :injury trom sudden shocks and jars either in raising or lowering the placards is avoided by the pneumatic check mechanism.

.lt will be understood that the embodiment of my improvements may be varied, as by the use ot mechanical equivalents and the like, without departing trom the scope ot my invention as claimed, the form of construction shoWn in the drawings being used by me as an illustrative type, and not as an exclusive one.

Having thus described my invention, whaty l claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent ot the United States is zl. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a `group ot placards therein, and manually operable, slidable and longitudinally reeiprocal'ile actuating' means torcausing` the movement ot the placards collectively and the separation and exhibition ot any one ot them independently.

2. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a group ot placards therein, and manually operable, slidable and longitudinally reeiprocable actuating means, embodyinga vertically movable plunger, tor causing the movement of the placards collectively and the separation and exhibition o'i' any one ot them independently.

ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a traveling traine provided with cennecting means and With 'trame locking' means, a group of placards carried by the trame, and manually operable, actuating' means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line ot movement et' the traveling trame, and provided with an element -for optionally engaging said connecting means to shiit the traveling trame or tor actuating said locking means.

il. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a traveling` trame provided with connecting means and with trame locking means, a group ot' placards carried by the trame, and manually operable, actuatii'ig` means, slidably reciproca-ble parallel to the line ot movement ot the traveling` trame, and provided with an element for optionally engaging said connecting' means to shitt the traveling trame or for actuating said lockingv means and releasing said connecting means. i

5. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a traveling' trame provided with connecting means and 1with `frame locking` means interrelated therewith, a -roup oli placards carried by the trame, and manually operable, actuating` means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line ot movement ot the t'aveling trame, and provided with an element Jfor optionally engaging` said connecting` means to shift thetraveling trame or tor actuating said lockingn means.

(l. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a traveling trame provided with connectingi means and with traine locking;` means, a group of placards carried by the trame, and manually operable, actuating mea-ns, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line of movement et the travelingl trame, and provided with elements including` a relatively reeiproeable plunger, tor optionally engaging' said connecting mians to shift the traveling- 'trame or tor actuating said locking' means. y

7. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a traveling trame provided with connecting .means and with. trame locking' means, a `group of placards carried by the trame, and manually operable, actuating' means, slidably reciprocable arallel to the liney of movement of the traveling trame, and provided with elements including` a relatively reciproiable plunger and a pivoted latch actuated thereby tor optionally engaging` said connecting mens to shifty the traveling` lrame or for actuating said locking means.

`8. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a. traveling frame provided vvith connecting means and with trame locking means, a group of placards carried by the iframe, and manually operable, actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line ot' movement oit' the 'traveling frame, and provided with elements, including a relatively reeiprocable plunger, for optionally engaging said connecting means or -for actuating said locking means and releasing said connecting means.

9. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a group oi? placards therein, placard group carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, and manually open able, actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel tothe line of movement of the placard group carrying means, and for causing the movement of the placard group carrying means and for actuating the pla fard engaging and elevating means.

l0. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, and manually operable, relatively actua-ting means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line or move' ment of the placard group carrying means, and embodying a reciprocable plunger, for causing the movement of the placard group carrying means and for actuating the placard engaging' and elevating means.

l1. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting means and with means l'or locking the carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, means adapted Ato engage with the connecting means, and manually operable actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line of movement of the placard group carrying means, and provided ivith an element for engaging the elevating means and tor actuating the means adapted to engage with the connecting means and, optionally, to actuate said locl ing means.

12. ln a selective information appara-tus, a case, a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting means and with means for locking the carrying means, placardengaging and elevatingmeans, means ladapted to engage With the connecting means, and manually operable actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line of movement of the placard group carrying means, and pro-` vided. With a plunger for engaging the elevating means and for actuating the means adapted to engage with the connecting means and optionally to actuate said locking means. v

13. ln aV selective information apparatus, a ease, a group oi placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting means and with means for locking the carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, a pivoted member adapted to engage with the connectingvmeans, and manually operable actuating means, slidably reciprooable parallel to the line of movement of the placard group carrying means, and provided with a plunger for engaging the elevating means and for actuating the pivoted member adapted to engage With the connecting means and, optionally, to actuate said locking means.

la. In a selective information apparatus, a case, a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with conn necting means and with means for loc-king the carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, means adapted to engage with the connecting means, pneumatic checking means,and manually operable actuating means, slidably reciprocable parn allel to the line or' movement of the placard group carrying means, and provided With an element for engaging the elevating means and for actuating the means adapted to engage with the connecting means and, optionally, to actuate said locking means.

15. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a group ot placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting means and with means for locking the carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, means adapted to engage with the connecting means, pneumatic clicking means embodying a dash pot` and cylinder, and manually loperable actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line of movement or the placard group carrying means, and provided with an element for engaging vthe elevating means and `for actuating the means adapted to engage with the connecting means and, optionally, to actuate said locking means. f

le. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting means and With means for locking the carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, means adapted to engage with the connecting means, pneumatic checking means embodying a pair of dash pots and cylinders, and manually operable actuating means, slidably reciprocable parallel to the line ot movement oi the placard group carrying means, and provided with an element 'lior engaging the elevating means and for actuating the means adapted to engage with the connecting means and, optionally, to actuate said locking means.

17. ln a selective information apparatus, a case` a group of placards therein, placard group carrying means provided with connecting;a moansy and with means tor lockingthe carrying means, placard engaging and elevating means, means adapted to engage 'with tbe connecting means, pneumatic cheeking; means embodying" a pair o't pive'ted dash Dots and cylinders, tubular nie-ans connecting' tlie dasli. pots, and manually operable actua'tinp' means, slidably reciprocable parallel to tlie lin-e o'l" move ent'of the placard group carrying means, and provided with an element 'for engaging tlie elevating)` means and for actuating tlie means adapted to engi' with tbe connecting means and, optioi'nilly, to actuate said locking means.

18. ln a selective inforn'iation apparatus, a case, a ,irroup olf placards therein, placard n'roup carrying means, actuating means manually operable in a straight line, parallel to the line oit n'iovement of the carrying means, to actuate 'the carrying means, ver-' tically movable placard engaging means, and means, including,` a flexible element, in-

terposed -betnfeen 'tlie manually operabley means and the placard engaging means, to convert horizontal movement ojf the former into vertical movement of the latter. p

1S). ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a ,ejroup of placards, tlierein, placard ,egroup carryingl means, actuating,` means manually operable iii a straight line, parallel to tiie line of movement of tlie carrying; means, to actu-ate tlic ci rrying means, vertically movable placard-lifting means and gripping` means, and. means, including' a flexible element, interposed between the manually operable means and tlie placard engaging means, to convert horizontal movement of the forn'ier into vertical movenient of tlie latter.

Q0. in a selective information apparatus, a case, a group oi placards therein, placard group carrying' means, actuating` means manually operable in a straight line, parallel to the line of movement of the carrying means, to actuate tlie carrying means, vertically movable, pheard-engaging means, and means, including a flexible element connected with said gripping; means, interposed between tbe manually operable n'ieans and llic placard engaging means, to convert liori-` pzoi'il'al movement of the former into vert-ical increment of the latter. i

ln selective iiitorination apparatus, a case, a group of placar'ls, glacard` group carryin e' means, means to taifttlie carrying mear vertically movable placard-lifting means and gripping: means einbodyingr a pivoted level', and means, including a idenibie clement. interposed between said sliiftingr means and said pivoted lever, and connected to tlie lever for 'causingA the lever to ,ejrip the placard,

529 ln a selective infrn'nuition apparatus, a case, u, ,group ol' placards, placard group carrying means, means to sliil't flie carrying;

cooperating with onefof tlie lifting means,

and means, including` a fiexible element, interpose'd between said shifting Vieais and `said pivoted lever, and connected to the lever for causing the lever to grip tlie placard. i

ln a selective information apparatus, a case, 4a `group of placards, placard group carrying means, means to` shift tlie carrying inea-ns, vertically movable placard-lifting `means and gripping Ameans embodying,` a pivoted lever, means including a flexible ele ment, interposed between said shifting means and said pivoted lever, and connected to tlie lever for causing* the levery 'to grip tlie placiu'd,4 and adjustable take up means for flexible element. f 2l. ln a selective information apparatus,- a case, a groin; ot placards, placard group cari-ving means, placard lifting means, manual y con ,rolling` and actuating` said carrying' means and tl'ie lifting means, and a plurality of interrelated pneumatic checking means. i l

i935. ln aselectiif'e information apparatus, a case, a group of piaci-rds, placai'iil group carrying means, plaiurrddiftinn means, manually operable, unitary, actuating moans 'for controllingY and actuating said carrying means and tlie lifting' means, and means for l'ioldingg'` said unitary means locked duringl tbe return movement of tbeelevating` means.

2l. ln a selective information apparatus, a case, a group oli placards, placard group rarrying means, placard-lifting means, manually operable, unitary, actuating, means for controlling' and actuating said carrying means and tlie lifting means, means for holding' said unitary means locked during tbe return movement of tbe elevating means, and means, actuated by tlie elevating means,

`for releasing said locking' means.` i

2'?. ln a selective intorination apparatus, a case, a gi'oupof placards, placard group car Jing means, piaci rtl-lifting means, manually operable, unitary, actuating' means 'for controllingr and actuatingi said4 :arrying means and tbe lifting' means, and means, iiicludingr a pivoted latch, for holding:r said unitary means locked during the return nioi'i'en'ient of tlie elevating means.

2e. ln selective information apparatus, a rase, a lgroup ot placards therein, placard ,ajroup carrying' means, actuating means manually operable in a horizontal, straight line to'actuate tlie carrying' means, vertically movable placard-engaging means, and means, including' a plurality ot' pulleys and u, flexible element, interiiosedbetween tlic 'manually opi-arable means and tbe placard engaging means, to convert lmriz/,ontal ymoren` operable, `unitary actuating' means 'for l iro moving the traine to and fr0.

30,. In a selective information apparatus, a ease, tracks, a reeiproeable, placard carrying' frame, anti-friction bearings between the tracks and traine, ineans for causing the travel of the traine relative to the bearings to be less than theirl travel relative to the tracks, and means for movingT the frame to and fro.

LESLIE R. B/ICDONALD. 

